Assignment 2 Query

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course MTH 158

1/24 3

002. `* 2

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Question: * R.2.46 (was R.2.36) Evaluate for x = -2, and y = 3 the expression (2x - 3) / y and explain how you got your result.

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Your solution:

I simply plugged in -2 for x and 3 for y. I first did(2(-2) – 3) and got -7. After plugging in 3 for y I got -7/3 for a final answer.

confidence rating #$&*: 3

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Given Solution:

* * ** Starting with (2x-3)/y we substitute x=-2 and y=3 to get

(2*(-2) - 3)/3 =

(-4-3)/3=

-7/3. **

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Self-critique (if necessary): OK

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Self-critique Rating: OK

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Question: * R.2. 55 (was R.2.45) Evaluate for x = 3 and y = -2: | |4x| - |5y| | and explain how you got your result.

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Your solution:

I started with the given problem of | |4x| - |5y| | and then substituted 3 for x and -2 for y. I first got | |4(3)| - |5(-2)| | and then | |12| - |-10| |. Next I got | 12 -10 | after calculating the absolute value. Then I subtracted and took the absolute value of the final answer and got 2

confidence rating #$&*: 3

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Given Solution:

* * ** Starting with | | 4x |- | 5y | | we substitute x=3 and y=-2 to get

| | 4*3 | - | 5*-2 | | =

| | 12 | - | -10 | | =

| 12-10 | =

| 2 | =

2.

*** R.2.64 (was R.2.54) Explain what values, if any, cannot be present in the domain of the expression (-9x^2 - x + 1) / (x^3 + x)

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Your solution:

You must exclude any values that make the denominator 0 so if we substitute 0 for x we get (x^3 + x) or (0^3 + 0) = 0 and this value can’t be used. So the only factor that doesn’t work is x = 0.

confidence rating #$&*: 3

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Given Solution:

* * ** The denominator of this expression cannot be zero, since division by zero is undefined.

Since x^3 + x factors into (x^2 + 1) ( x ) we see that x^3 + x = 0 is, and only if, either x^2 + 1 = 0 or x = 0.

Since x^2 cannot be negative x^2 + 1 cannot be 0, so x = 0 is indeed the only value for which x^3 + x = 0. **

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Self-critique (if necessary): OK

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Self-critique Rating: OK

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Question:

* R.2.76 \ 73 (was R.4.6). What is -4^-2 and how did you use the laws of exponents to get your result?

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Your solution:

-4^-2 equals -(1/16). We use the laws of exponents to find this because it states that to calculate a negative exponent just multiply by the reciprocal to make all numbers positive. Therefore, the reciprocal of 4 is ¼. ¼^-2 = -1/16.

confidence rating #$&*:

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Given Solution:

* * ** order of operations implies exponentiation before multiplication; the - in front of the 4 is not part of the 4 but is an implicit multiplication by -1. Thus only 4 is raised to the -2 power.

Starting with the expression -4^(-2):

Since a^-b = 1 / (a^b), we have

4^-2 = 1 / (4)^2 = 1 / 16.

The - in front then gives us -4^(-2) = - ( 1/ 16) = -1/16.

If the intent was to take -4 to the -2 power the expression would have been written (-4)^(-2).**

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Self-critique (if necessary): OK

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Self-critique Rating: OK

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Question:

* Extra Problem. What is (3^-2 * 5^3) / (3^2 * 5) and how did you use the laws of exponents to get your result?

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Your solution:

I got lost doing this problem. I thought I was going the right way but then couldn’t figure out the rest of the problem.

confidence rating #$&*: 0

@& You should show the steps you took.*@

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Given Solution:

Starting with (3^(-2)*5^3)/(3^2*5):

Grouping factors with like bases we have

3^(-2)/3^2 * 5^3 / 5. Using the fact that a^b / a^c = a^(b-c) we get

3^(-2 -2) * 5^(3-1), which gives us

3^-4 * 5^2. Using a^(-b) = 1 / a^b we get

(1/3^4) * 5^2. Simplifying we have

(1/81) * 25 = 25/81. **

STUDENT QUESTION:

I do not understand how we can ungroup the (3^(-2) *5^3).

INSTRUCTOR RESPONSE

Hopefully this will clarify that operation:

(a / c) * (b / d) = (a * b) / (c * d), since you multiply the numerators to get the numerator and the denominators to get the denominator.

So it must be true that

(a * b) / (c * d) = (a / c) * (b / d).

Now substitute a = 3^(-2), b = 5^3, c = 3^2 and d = 5. You find that

(3^(-2)*5^3)/(3^2*5) = 3^(-2)/3^2 * 5^3 / 5.

STUDENT SOLUTION (with error)

(3^-2*5^3)/(3^2*5) = 1/9*125/9*5=13.8888/45

INSTRUCTOR CRITIQUE

You almost had it, but you left off the grouping of the denominator.

1/9*125/(9*5) would have worked.

1/9 * 125 = 125 / 9.

Then dividing this by 9 * 5 gives us

(125 / 9) * (1 / 45) = 125 / 405, which reduces to 25 / 81.

It's more instructive (and in the long run easier) to keep things in exponential form, though, and take the powers at the end:

(3^-2*5^3)/(3^2*5) =

(1/3^2 * 5^3) / (3^2 * 5) =

(5^3 / 3^2) / (3^2 * 5) =

5^3 / (3^2 * 3^2 * 5) =

5^2 / (3^4) =

25 / 81.

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Self-critique (if necessary):

After looking at the problem I understand how you got the answer. I need to reread the section on the laws of exponents to get a better understanding of the material.

@& Students typically come into this course shaky on the laws of exponents.*@

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Self-critique Rating: 3

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Question:

* R.2.94. Express [ 5 x^-2 / (6 y^-2) ] ^ -3 with only positive exponents and explain how you used the laws of exponents to get your result.

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Your solution:

First we must raise everything inside the parenthesis to the -3 power giving us [ 1/125x^6 / (1/216y^6) ]. Now we flip flop the fractions in order to get a final answer of 216y^6 / 125x^6.

confidence rating #$&*: 2

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Given Solution:

[ 5 x^-2 / (6 y^-2) ] ^ -3 = (5 x^-2)^-3 / (6 y^-2)^-3, since (a/b)^c = a^c / b^c. This simplifies to

5^-3 (x^-2)^-3 / [ 6^-3 (y^-2)^-3 ] since (ab)^c = a^c b^c. Then since (a^b)^c = a^(bc) we have

5^-3 x^6 / [ 6^-3 y^6 ] . We rearrange this to get the result

6^3 x^6 / (5^3 y^6), since a^-b = 1 / a^b.

STUDENT QUESTION:

I do not see how you can take and seperate the problem down like this has it seems to just have reversed the problem

around in a different ordering and I do not see how this changed the exponets from being negative

Is there anyway you can explain this problem in a little more depth

INSTRUCTOR RESPONSE:

A fundamental law of exponents is that exponentiation distributes over multiplication, so that

(a * b) ^ c = a^c * b^c and

(a / b) ^ c = a^c / b^c

More specifically, if c = -3 then we have

( a * b ) ^ (-3) = a * (-3) * b^(-3) and

( a / b ) ^ (-3) = a ^ (-3) / b^(-3).

Now

a ^ (3) / b^(3) = 1 / a ^ (3) / (1 / b^(3)) and

1 / a ^ (3) / (1 / b^(3)) = 1 / a^3 * (b^3 / 1) = b^3 / a^3.

This principle applies to any string of multiplcations and division, so for example

( a * b / (c * d) ) ^ e = a^e * b^e / (c^e * d^e).

If e = -3 then we would have

( a * b / (c * d) ) ^ (-3) = a^(-3) * b^(-3) / (c^(-3) * d^(-3)).

Since the -3 power is the reciprocal of the 3 power this expression becomes

1/a^(3) * (1/b^(3)) / (1/c^(3) * (1/d^(3))), which is easily seen to be equal to

1 / (a^3 * b^3) / (1 / (c^3 * d^3) ).

Dividing by (1 / (c^3 * d^3) ) is the same as multiplying by (c^3 * d^3) / 1 so

1 / (a^3 * b^3) / (1 / (c^3 * d^3) ) = 1 / (a^3 * b^3) * (c^3 * d^3) = (c^3 * d^3) / (a^3 * b^3).

You should have written the above expressions, which are difficult to read in this notation, on paper, applying the order of operations. The expressions you wrote down should look like the ones below. Be sure you understand the translation from the 'typewriter notation' above to the standard notation depicted below, and be sure you know how to write each of the expressions depicted below in standard notation:

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Self-critique (if necessary):

Again I made a big mistake due to lack of knowledge of the law of exponents. I will review it and try to get a better understanding.

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Self-critique Rating: 2

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Question:

* Extra Problem. Express (-8 x^3) ^ -2 with only positive exponents and explain how you used the laws of exponents to get your result.

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Your solution:

Again I am not understanding the law of exponents. However, when I worked it out I did get the answer that you have labeled ONE CORRECT SOLUTION.

confidence rating #$&*: 0

@& It's important for you to show the steps of your thinking. i need information in order to provide assistance.*@

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Given Solution:

* * ** ERRONEOUS STUDENT SOLUTION:

(-8x^3)^-2

-1/(-8^2 * x^3+2)

1/64x^5

INSTRUCTOR COMMENT:

1/64x^5 means 1 / 64 * x^5 = x^5 / 64. This is not what you meant but it is the only correct interpretation of what you wrote.

Also it's not x^3 * x^2, which would be x^5, but (x^3)^2.

There are several ways to get the solution. Two ways are shown below. They make more sense if you write them out in standard notation.

ONE CORRECT SOLUTION:

(-8x^3)^-2 =

(-8)^-2*(x^3)^-2 =

1 / (-8)^2 * 1 / (x^3)^2 =

1/64 * 1/x^6 =

1 / (64 x^6).

Alternatively

(-8 x^3)^-2 =

1 / [ (-8 x^3)^2] =

1 / [ (-8)^2 (x^3)^2 ] =

1 / ( 64 x^6 ). **

* R.2.90 (was R.4.36). Express (x^-2 y) / (x y^2) with only positive exponents and explain how you used the laws of exponents to get your result.

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Your solution:

The first thing I did is separated the problem to look like (x^-2 / x^1) * (y^1 / y^2) and subtracted individually and got x^-3 * y^-1. Using the law of exponents I got 1/x^3 and 1/y then I multiplied to recombine them and got 1/x^3y.

confidence rating #$&*: 2

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Given Solution:

(x^-2 y) / (x y^2)

= (1/x^2) * y / (x * y^2)

= y / ( x^2 * x * y^2)

= y / (x^3 y^2)

= 1 / (x^3 y).

Alternatively, or as a check, you could use positive and negative exponents, then in the last step express everything in terms of positive exponents, as follows:

(x^-2y)/(xy^2)

= x^-2 * y * x^-1 * y^-2

= x^(-2 - 1) * y^(1 - 2)

= x^-3 y^-1

= 1 / (x^3 y).

STUDENT QUESTION

I wrote it down on paper and I am still a little confused. I understand it down to the 3rd step and then I lose the meaning of the law of exponents.

Why does it change to:

(1/x^2 * y) multiplied by 1/xy^2 the multiplication throws me off.

INSTRUCTOR RESPONSE

(1/x^2 * y) means ( (1/x^2) * y, which is the same as (y / x^2).

So (1/x^2 * y) / (x * y^2) means

(y / x^2) / (x * y^2).

Division by (x * y^2) is the same as multiplication by 1 / (x * y^2) .

So (y / x^2) / (x * y^2) means

(y / x^2) * (1 / (x * y^2)). Multiplying the numerators and denominators of these fractions we have

(y * 1) / (x^2 * x * y^2), which is

y / (x^3 * y^2). Dividing both numerator and denominator by y we have

1 / (x^3 * y).

Let me know if this doesn't help.

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Self-critique (if necessary): OK

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Self-critique Rating: OK

@& Good job of describing your steps in your solution.*@

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Question:

* Extra Problem. . Express 4 x^-2 (y z)^-1 / [ (-5)^2 x^4 y^2 z^-5 ] with only positive exponents and explain how you used the laws of exponents to get your result.

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Your solution:

The first thing I did was made 4 x^-2 into 4(1/x^2), (y z)^-1 into 1 / (yz), (-5)^2 into 25, and z^-5 into z^5 / 1. Next I simplified and got 4z^5 / 25x^6y^3z and after one final subtraction of z’s I got 4z^4 / (25x^6y^3).

confidence rating #$&*: 3

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Given Solution:

* * ** Starting with

4x^-2(yz)^-1/ [ (-5)^2 x^4 y^2 z^-5] Squaring the -5 and using the fact that (yz)^-1 = y^1 * z^-1:

4x^-2 * y^-1 * z^-1/ [25 * x^4 * y^2 * z^-5} Grouping the numbers, and the x, the y and the z expression:

(4/25) * (x^-2/x^4) * (y^-1/y^2) * (z^-1/z^-5) Simplifying by the laws of exponents:

(4/25) * x^(-2-4) * y^(-1-2) * z^(-1+5) Simplifying further:

(4/25) * x^-6 * y^-3 * z^4 Writing with positive exponents:

4z^4/ (25x^6 * y^3 ) **

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Self-critique (if necessary): OK

Self-critique Rating: OK

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Question:

* R.2.122 (was R.4.72). Express 0.00421 in scientific notation.

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Your solution:

0.00421 = 4.21 * 10^-3 in scientific notation

confidence rating #$&*: 3

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Given Solution:

* * ** 0.00421 in scientific notation is 4.21*10^-3. This is expressed on many calculators as 4.21 E-4. **

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Self-critique (if necessary): OK

Self-critique Rating:

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Question:

* R.2.128 (was R.4.78). Express 9.7 * 10^3 in decimal notation.

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Your solution:

9.7 * 10^3 is equal to 9,700

confidence rating #$&*: 3

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Given Solution:

* * ** 9.7*10^3 in decimal notation is 9.7 * 1000 = 9700 **

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Self-critique (if necessary): OK

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Self-critique Rating: OK

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Question:

* R.2.152 \ 150 (was R.2.78) If an unhealthy temperature is one for which | T - 98.6 | > 1.5, then how do you show that T = 97 and T = 100 are unhealthy?

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Your solution:

If you substitute 97 for T you get | 97 - 98.6 | > 1.5, then | 1.6 | > 1.5, and finally 1.6 > 1.5. This shows that 97 is inside the acceptable range and that 97 is not an unhealthy temperature. If you substitute 100 for T you get | 100 - 98.6 | > 1.5, then | 1.4 | > 1.5, and finally 1.4 > 1.5. This shows that at 100 degrees the Temperature falls in the unacceptable range and so is therefore deemed unhealthy.

confidence rating #$&*: 3

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Given Solution:

* * ** You can show that T=97 is unhealthy by substituting 97 for T to get | -1.6| > 1.5, equivalent to the true statement 1.6>1.5.

But you can't show that T=100 is unhealthy, when you sustitute for T then it becomes | 100 - 98.6 | > 1.5, or

| 1.4 | > 1.5, giving us

1.4>1.5, which is an untrue statement. **

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Self-critique (if necessary): OK

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Self-critique Rating: OK

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Given Solution:

* * ** You can show that T=97 is unhealthy by substituting 97 for T to get | -1.6| > 1.5, equivalent to the true statement 1.6>1.5.

But you can't show that T=100 is unhealthy, when you sustitute for T then it becomes | 100 - 98.6 | > 1.5, or

| 1.4 | > 1.5, giving us

1.4>1.5, which is an untrue statement. **

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Self-critique (if necessary): OK

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Self-critique Rating: OK

#(*!

@& Good work overall, but be sure to see my inserted notes for future reference.*@